Dynasty Warriors 8 - 5 Star Weapons Guide

Each Dynasty Warriors 8 character has a five-star weapon of their own that allows them to use EX attacks. In order to acquire a five-star weapon, certain requirements must be fulfilled. The game must be played in either Story Mode or Free Mode, and the difficulty must be set to Hard or Chaos. In addition, each weapon has a specific task that must be completed, and this task has to be completed by the character that the weapon is intended for. After successfully performing the task and completing the stage in its entirety, you must also find the location of the weapon box which contains the weapon.

Invasion of Luoyang

Weapon: Double-edge TridentCharacter: Jiang WeiFaction: Shu ForcesPrerequisite: Escape the castle in less than 10 minutes from the closing of the main gates.Location: The weapon box is on the battlefield, in the corner to the southeast.

Escape from Luoyang

Weapon: Bow and RodCharacter: Xiahou YuanFaction: Wei ForcesPrerequisite: Make your way to the weapon testing grounds before Lu Bu destroys a gate.Location: Two staircases reside at the southern part of the castle, both leading to dead ends. The weapon box will be at the dead end past the eastern staircase.

Chase at Hulao Gate

Weapon: BombCharacter: Dong ZhuoFaction: OtherPrerequisite: After Luoyang goes ablaze, you have 7 minutes to kill Yuan Shao while ensuring that none of Dong Zhuo’s officers die.Location: The weapon box is west of Yuan Shao’s starting zone, near the gate.

Battle of Hulao Gate

Weapon: Wheeled HalberdCharacter: Li DianFaction: Wei ForcesPrerequisite: Get through Hulao Gate without defeating a coalition officer.Location: The weapon box can be found south of Zhang Liao's ambush area.

Battle of Yan Province (Cao Cao's Forces)

Weapon: Duel HookbladesCharacter: Yue JinFaction: Wei ForcesPrerequisite: From the beginning of the battle you have 5 minutes to reach the river bank to the north.Location: The weapon box is near the west battlefield on a cliff.

Defense of Xu Province

Weapon: Twin SwordsCharacter: Liu BeiFaction: Shu ForcesPrerequisite: Defeat the fire attack units to prevent them from issuing the attack and keep Xu Huang and Zhang Liao from entering the castle.Location: The weapon box resides in the center of the battlefield.

Battle of Xu Province

Weapon: Spike ShieldCharacter: Cao RenFaction: Wei ForcesPrerequisite: Kill Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei before they reach the camp. In addition, the catapults need to be captured before attacks on the capital begin.Location: There is a dead end at the northeast path; the weapon box will be near the dead end.

Imperial Escort

Weapon: Great AxeCharacter: Xu HuangFaction: Wei ForcesPrerequisite: Assist the carriage in breaking the gates in under 5 minutes from when the gates became sealed.Location: The weapon box is past the gate you help break through, north of the other nearby gate and close the right side of the wall.

Battle of Wan Castle

Weapon: Axe

Character: Dian WeiFaction: Wei ForcesPrerequisite: Escape from Wan Castle in under 8 minutes. Location: The weapon box can be found in the southeast section of the battlefield.

Battle of Xiapi

Skirmish at Guandu

Weapon: Extension BladeCharacter: Yuan ShaoFaction: OtherPrerequisite: Keep Zhang He and Zhenji from defecting while also keeping Liu Bei and Zhang Fei from withdrawing.Location: The weapon box is outside the castle near the northwest garrison.

Battle of Guandu

Weapon: Duel BladeCharacter: Cao PiFaction: Wei ForcesPrerequisite: Perform the fire attack without one of Cao Cao’s officers escaping.Location: The weapon box is located near the northwestern corner of the castle.

Assault at Xinye

Weapon: Iron FanCharacter: XiaoqiaoFaction: Wu ForcesPrerequisite: Before Sun Quan reaches the first checkpoint, rescue all of the animals.Location: The weapon box is at the end of a path near the first checkpoint which leads to a dead end.

Battle of Xinye (Cao Cao's Forces)

Weapon: Orb and ScepterCharacter: Guo JiaFaction: Wei Forces Prerequisite: Kill Xu Shu in under 8 minutes.Location: Near the south side of the Eight Gates Formation, take the left entrance and inside you will find the weapon box.

Battle of Xinye (Liu Bei's Forces)

Weapon: Sword and HookCharacter: Xu ShuFaction: Shu ForcesPrerequisite: Kill Zhang He, Yue Jin, Li Dian and Cao Ren in under 8 minutes.Location: Near the east side of the Eight Gates Formation, take the bottom entrance and inside you will find the weapon box.

Battle of Chibi

Weapon: War FanCharacter: Zhuge LiangFaction: Shu ForcesPrerequisite: Keep the Wei officers from entering the ceremony until it has been completed.Location: There is a pathway toward the boat near the south, the weapon box can be found along the path.

Weapon: ClubCharacter: Xu ZhuFaction: Wei ForcesPrerequisite: Defeat Gan Ning in under 7 minutes.Location: The weapon box is southeast of where Xu Zhu comes from the boat.

Weapon: Arm BladeCharacter: Huang GaiFaction: Wu ForcesPrerequisite: Kill all 8 of the Wei vanguard officers before they reach the main camp.Location: The weapon box is north of the boat that Huang Gai and Han Dang ride to Cao Cao’s ships. If they have already left on the boat, you won’t be able to get to the weapon box.

Final Conflict at Chibi (Sima Shi’s Forces)

Weapon: Throwing AxesCharacter: Jia ChongFaction: Jin ForcesPrerequisite: Take control of the ballistae before they are used to kill a single Wei officer.Location: The weapon box can be found close to the starting zone of Dong Jue.

Battle of Tong Gate (Cao Cao's Forces)

Weapon: TrishulaCharacter: Wang YiFaction: Wei ForcesPrerequisite: After Ma Chao’s surprise attack, you have 8 minutes to enter the main camp of the Coalition Forces.Location: The east area after passing through the third gate. Location: After passing through the third gate, you will find the weapon box in the eastern area.

Battle of Hefei

Weapon: Twin AxesCharacter: Zhang LiaoFaction: Wei ForcesPrerequisite: Defeat both Zhou Tai and Lu Meng in under 12 minutes.Location: The weapon box can be found close to the center Sun Quan's camp.

Weapon: FlailCharacter: Gan NingFaction: Wu ForcesPrerequisite: Before the ram is completely destroyed, defeat both Li Dian and Yue Jin in battle.Location: The weapon box is located atop Hefei Castle's wall to the west.

Battle of Mt. Dingjun

Weapon: ClawsCharacter: Zhang HeFaction: Wei ForcesPrerequisite: Defeat Zhang Bao, Ma Dai and Zhao Yun in under 8 minutes.Location: You will find the weapon box in the middle of the path east of Zhuge Liang’s camp.

Weapon: BowCharacter: Huang ZhongFaction: Shu ForcesPrerequisite: Defeat Du Xi, Xu Huang, Wang Yi, Cao Zhang and Cao Zhen before the unit of Wei Forces arrives.Location: The weapon box can be found near the garrison to the west of Cao Cao’s camp.

Battle of Xiangyang (Sun Jian's Forces)

Weapon: WheelsCharacter: Sun ShangxiangFaction: Wu ForcesPrerequisite: Assault Xiangyang Castle and defeat Lu Gong. This must be completed in under 2 minutes from when Sun Jian issues the order.Location: The weapon box is located in an alleyway in the northeast corner of the castle.

Conquest of Wujun

Weapon: TonfaCharacter: Sun CeFaction: Wu ForcesPrerequisite: Defeat Taishi Ci in under 5 minutes. The weapon can only be acquired through the second time you defeat Taishi Ci.Location: The weapon box is located near the southern garrison.

Defeat Gan Ji

Weapon: Pugil Stick

Character: DaqiaoFaction: Wu ForcesPrerequisite: Kill Gan Ji in under 8 minutes. Gan Ji has to be defeated twice in order to acquire the weapon.Location: The weapon box is near the second starting zone of Gan Ji.

Battle of Nanjun (Sun Quan’s Forces)

Weapon: Staff

Character: Zhou YuFaction: Wu ForcesPrerequisite: Rescue Gan Ning in under 5 minutes. Location: Outside of Cao Ren's camp, the weapon box is near the west garrison.

Pursuit at Nanjun

Weapon: MaceCharacter: Pang DeFaction: Wei ForcesPrerequisite: Defeat Zhao Yun, Zhang Fei and Guan Yu in under 8 minutes.Location: Head south from Guan Yu’s starting zone, the go east, north and east again into a small area where the weapon box is located.

Battle of New Hefei Castle

Weapon: CrossboxCharacter: LianshiFaction: Wu ForcesPrerequisite: Prevent Man Chong from arriving at the main camp by killing him before he can reach it.Location: The weapon box is near two ballistae in the southeastern section of the castle.

Battle of New Hefei Castle (Sima Shi’s Forces)

Weapon: Short RodsCharacter: Zhuge DanFaction: Jin ForcesPrerequisite: Once the castle gates open you have 5 minutes to lure Zhuge Ke from the camp.Location: The weapon box is in the castle’s southwest section near the west garrison.

Battle of Ruxukou

Weapon: Three Sectional StaffCharacter: Ling TongFaction: Wu ForcesPrerequisite: After Lu Meng issues the order to capture the Wei garrisons, you have 5 minutes and 40 seconds to do so.Location: The weapon box is at the south central Wei garrison.

Battle of Fan Castle

Weapon: PodaoCharacter: Xiahou DunFaction: Wei ForcesPrerequisite: Before aiding Fan Castle, rescue Hu Xiu, Fu Fang and Yu Jin prior to their defection. Location: The weapon box can be found north of the bridge, southeast of the area you started in.

Weapon: PikeCharacter: Lu MengFaction: Wu ForcesPrerequisite: Defeat Guan Yu in under 3 minutes. This will only unlock the weapon the first time you fight him. Location: The weapon box is located near the bridge close to Guan Yu’s starting zone.

Weapon: NunchakuCharacter: Guan SuoFaction: Shu ForcesPrerequisite: Defeat all of the Wu officers in under 5 minutes of their arrival. Location: The weapon box is near the gate southeast of Cao Ren.

Weapon: Dual-headed MaceCharacter: Guan YinpingFaction: Shu ForcePrerequisite: Defeat all of the Wu officers in under 4 minutes of their arrival.Location: The weapon box is next to the southeast gate, outside the camp of Cao Ren.

Battle of Yiling

Weapon: Swallow SwordsCharacter: Lu XunFaction: Wu ForcesPrerequisite: After Lu Xun gives the order to defeat Liu Bei, you must do so within 5 minutes. The weapon can only be acquired the first time you defeat Liu Bei.Location: The weapon box can be found on the battlefield in the northeast corner.

Weapon: Dragon SpearCharacter: Zhao YunFaction: Shu ForcesPrerequisite: Defeat Zhou Tai, Gan Ning and Ling Tong to prevent the plot of the Wu Forces. This must be done in under 9 minutes starting from when Liu Bei gave the order.Location: Follow Han Dang as he walks into a path to perform the fire attack; the weapon box is located in this path.

Battle of Shiting

Weapon: Curved SwordCharacter: Zhou TaiFaction: Wu ForcesPrerequisite: Kill Sima Zhao and Sima Shi in under 2 minutes and 30 seconds. This time limit begins when you use the false surrender plot.Location: The weapon box can be found near the starting zone of Dai Ling.

Battle of Changban

Battle of Chengdu (Liu Bei’s Forces)

Weapon: Shadow FanCharacter: Pang TongFaction: Shu ForcesPrerequisite: Perform the surprise attack and take control of Luo Castle in under 5 minutes.Location: The weapon box is to the north of Lin Yan’s starting zone.

Battle of Chengdu (Sima Zhao's Forces)

Weapon: Striking SwordCharacter: Sima ZhaoFaction: Jin Forces Prerequisite: After Liu Shan withdraws, you have 7 minutes to kill Guan Suo and Jiang Wei.Location: Chengdu Castle has an alley in the center; the weapon box is within that alley.

Capture of Chengdu (Sima Shi's Forces)

Weapon: Siege SpearCharacter: Xiahou BaFaction: Jin ForcesPrerequisite: Keep Guan Yinping and Guan Suo from gaining entrance to the main camp; you must defeat them before they enter.Location: You can find the weapon box in the central battlefield.

Defend Chengdu - (Sima Shi's Forces)

Weapon: JavelinCharacter: Wen YangFaction: Jin ForcesPrerequisite: Meng Huo must be defeated before the central garrison goes ablaze.Location: The weapon box is located near the southeast garrison.

Battle of Tianshui

Weapon: Sword and ShieldCharacter: XingcaiFaction: Shu ForcesPrerequisite: Both Nan’an and Anding need to be captured before Jiang Wei reaches them.Location: West of Tianshu Castle there is a path that leads south; the weapon box is along the path.

Battle of Jieting

Weapon: Dagger-axeCharacter: YueyingFaction: Shu ForcesPrerequisite: From the beginning of the battle you have 5 minutes to force Liao Hua, Xiang Lang and Cao Xiang to retreat and to defeat 300 enemy officers.Location: The weapon box can be found east of Zhang He’s starting zone near a garrison.

Pursuit at Wuzhang Plains

Weapon: Horsehair Whip

Character: Sima YiFaction: Jin ForcesPrerequisite: Defeat Zhang Ni. Du Rui and Zhao Zhi, as well as the rest of the Shu Forces, totalling 300 members.Location: Take the southern path west from the pavillion, the weapon box close to the end of the path.

Battle of the Wuzhang Plains

Weapon: BrushCharacter: Ma DaiFaction: Shu ForcesPrerequisite: Successfully withdraw without letting a Shu officer get killed.Location: Near Wang Ping's starting location. Location: The weapon box can be found near the starting zone of Wang Ping.

Battle of Chencang

Weapon: Wing BladesCharacter: Guan XingFaction: Shu ForcesPrerequisite: Kill Xiahou Wei before the castle learns of the invasion of the Wei Forces.Location: The weapon box can be found in the northwest on the castle wall.

Battle of Lukou

Weapon: Flail SwordCharacter: Zhang BaoFaction: Shu ForcesPrerequisite: Keep the enemy from performing fire attacks in under 7 minutes from when the battle begins.Location: The weapon box is on top of a cliff at the end of the southeastern path.

Ambush at Chang'an

Weapon: SpearCharacter: Ma ChaoFaction: Shu ForcesPrerequisite: From the beginning of the battle you have 5 minutes to find the maiden’s sister.Location: The weapon box can be found two rooms east of Cai Wenji.

Pacification of Nanzhong

Weapon: Great SwordCharacter: Guan PingFaction: Shu ForcesPrerequisite: Capture the support base of the catapult and kill Yang Feng in under 5 minutes from the beginning of the battle.Location: The weapon box can be found east of Yan Feng’s starting zone near the gate.

Nanzhong Rescue Mission

Weapon: BoomerangCharacter: ZhurongFaction: OtherPrerequisite: After you have rescued King Mulu, you have until he reappears to rescue Meng Huo.Location: The weapon box is near the garrison to the northwest of the battlefield.

Capture of Wei

Weapon: RapierCharacter: Liu ShanFaction: Shu ForcesPrerequisite: Kill Yue Jin, Li Dian and Zhang Liao in under 10 minutes.Location: The weapon box is located to the east of Jia Kui’s starting zone.

Battle of Baidi Castle

Weapon: General’s SwordCharacter: Cao CaoFaction: Wei ForcesPrerequisite: Open the Baidi Castle gates in under 14 minutes. Location: The weapon box is near the dead end in the southern area of Baidi Castle.

Rescue at Baidi Castle

Weapon: GlovesCharacter: Meng HuoFaction: Other Prerequisite: When the battle starts you have 8 minutes to kill Chen Wei, Cao Zhang, Wang Shuang and/or Chen Jiao. At least 3 of those officers need to be killed.Location: The weapon box is outside the castle wall to the north.

Assault on Xuchang

Weapon: Nine Rings BladeCharacter: Sun JianFaction: Wu ForcesPrerequisite: Perform the fire attack within 12 minutes of the battle’s beginning.Location: The weapon box can be found in the center of town near Xu Huang's starting zone.

Uprising at Xuchang

Weapon: FluteCharacter: ZhenjiFaction: Wei ForcesPrerequisite: After Zuo Ci appears, you have 8 minutes to find him again.Location: The weapon box is at the starting zone of Zhenji.

Phantoms of Xuchang

Weapon: Talisman CardsCharacter: Zuo CiFaction: OtherPrerequisite: Place 3 alters and kill Sima Yi while ensuring that no phantom officers die.Location: Southeast of the town, near Dong Zhao’s starting zone is where the weapon box can be found.

Eliminate Dong Zhuo

Weapon: Chain WhipCharacter: DiaochanFaction: OtherPrerequisite: Defeat Zhang Liao in under 8 minutes.Location: The weapon box is close to the starting zone of Dong Zhuo.

Pursuit at Shouchun

Battle of Liang Province (Coalition Forces)

Weapon: SwordCharacter: Sun QuanFaction: Wu ForcesPrerequisite: Defeat Han Sui, Ma Dai and Ma Chao without a Wu Forces officer dying.Location: The weapon box is inside the garrison to the south of the central battlefield.

Guanqiu Jian & Wen Qin's Rebellion

Weapon: Lightning SwordCharacter: Sima ShiFaction: Jin ForcesPrerequisite: After Wen Yang’s surprise attack you have one minute to return to the main camp of the Wei Forces.Location: The weapon box is on top of the cliff where the surprise attack was made.

Defeat the Rebels (Sima Yi's Forces)

Weapon: Wired Gloves

Character: Zhang ChunhuaFaction: Jin ForcesPrerequisite: Kill Liu Yao and Zhong Chan in under 5 minutes.Location: The weapon box is located near the starting zone of Zhong Yi.

Battle of Runan

Weapon: RakeCharacter: Lu SuFaction: Wu ForcesPrerequisite: Kill Wang Yuanji and Zhang Chunhua in under 8 minutes.Location: The weapon box is to the west of the wall of arbalests.

Defense of Jiangxia

Weapon: Short PikeCharacter: Han DangFaction: Wu ForcesPrerequisite: Protect the garrisons to the east by maintaining defense.Location: The weapon box is near Sun Quan’s starting zone.

Xiahou Ba's Journey

Weapon: Arm CannonCharacter: Guo HuaiFaction: Jin ForcesPrerequisite: Block the path twice and kill each of the Shu officers on the path in under 8 minutes.Location: The weapon box can be found close to the starting zone of Jiang Wei, near a dead end path.

Battle of Guangling

Weapon: Circle BladeCharacter: Ding FengFaction: Wu ForcesPrerequisite: Perform the surprise attack and kill Sima Yi in under 9 minutes.Location: The weapon box is south of the starting zone of Zhang Liao on a staircase.

Battle of Jiange (Deng Ai's Forces)

Weapon: LanceCharacter: Deng AiFaction: Jin ForcesPrerequisite: When the battle begins you have 8 minutes to kill Jiang Wei and succeed in the decoy strategy.Location: The weapon box is located close to the southeastern garrison, in the area directly northwest of the garrison.

Battle of Jianye (Sima Zhao's Forces)

Weapon: Throwing KnivesCharacter: Wang YuanjiFaction: Jin ForcesPrerequisite: When the castle gates open you have 8 minutes to make your way to Sun Xiu.Location: The weapon box is near the throne room to the left of the walkway.

Campaign for Jianye

Weapon: HarpCharacter: Cai WenjiFaction: Wei ForcesPrerequisite: Defeat the assault units of Lu Meng and Lu Xun before it reaches the main camp.Location: The weapon box can be found close to the starting zone of Lu Su.

Tips for Acquiring 5-Star Weapons

If you find it difficult to perform the prerequisite task for a weapon, you can save the game right before you attempt the task. Doing so will save you the time and trouble of repeating an entire stage.

If the prerequisite task is to defeat someone, you must land the killing blow to acquire the weapon.

"Treasure Discovered" will appear when you successfully perform the task. After this occurs you can find the location of the weapon box by going to the Battle Log.

In co-op mode, both players can acquire the first player’s EX weapon.

You can acquire a weapon multiple times by repeating the prerequisite task and completing the stage.

For timed tasks, riding a horse can greatly reduce the time you spend attempting the task. The fastest horse in the game is Red Hare, which is acquired by completing 30 back-to-back battles in Ambition mode three separate times.